System for coupling programmable logic device to external circuitry which selects a logic standard and uses buffers to modify output and input signals accordingly

ABSTRACT

A programmable input/output device for use with a programmable logic device (PLD) is presented comprising an input buffer, an output buffer and programmable elements. The programmable elements may be programmed to select a logic standard for the input/output device to operate at. For instance, a given set of Select Bits applied to the programmable elements may select TTL logic, in which case the input and output buffers would operate according to the voltage levels appropriate for TTL logic (e.g., 0.4 volts to 2.4 volts). For a different set of Select Bits, the GTL logic standard would be applied (e.g., 0.8 volts to 1.2 volts). The invention enables a single PLD to be used in conjunction with various types of external circuitry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to programmable logic devices (“PLDs”), and moreparticularly to a new architecture for the input/output (I/O) circuitrywhich couples the PLDs to external circuitry.

Programmable logic devices are integrated circuits which are able toimplement combinational and/or sequential digital functions which may bedefined by a designer and programmed into the device. Thus, PLDs may beconfigured by a user to implement any Boolean expression or registeredfunction with built-in logic structures. Once a PLD is configured, theuser must connect the PLD to external circuitry which provides inputsignals to, and receives output signals from, the PLD.

One deficiency of conventional PLDs and their I/O circuitry is that eachPLD must be configured to operate with specific external circuitry. Forexample, if a user utilizes Transistor-to-Transistor Logic (TTL) or CMOSexternal circuitry, the PLD must be configured to provide theappropriate drive signals. However, the selection of open drain logicmay require different drive parameters and thus, a different PLD, eventhough the basic PLD is substantially the same. This deficiency is evenmore apparent in view of the programmable nature of PLDs and theflexibility provided to the end users.

Further, the nature of PLDs, as semiconductor devices, is that they aresusceptible to a wide range of potential hazards, such as electrostaticdischarge (ESD). To avoid these potential problems, care must be takenin connecting the PLD pins to external circuitry. Any pins which areused as input pins should preferably be driven by an active source(including bi-directional pins during input operations). Additionally,unused pins are typically tied to ground to avoid the potential ofadditional DC current and noise being introduced into the circuits.

Output loading of the PLD I/O pins is typically resistive and/orcapacitive. Resistive loading exists where the device output sinks orsources a current during steady-state operation (e.g., TTL inputs,terminated buses, and discrete bipolar transistors). Capacitive loadingtypically occurs from packaging and printed circuit board traces.Further, an important design consideration of the interface between thePLD and external circuitry is that the target device can supply both thecurrent and speed necessary for the given loads.

Various attempts have also been made at providing interface circuitrythat operates at lower power levels, for example, the Gunning TransistorLogic (GTL) interface described in Gunning U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,488. GTLinterface drivers typically operate with a voltage swing on the order ofabout 0.8 volts to 1.2 volts, which are intended to drive a CMOS binarycommunications bus. Another interface, High-Speed Transistor Logic(HSTL) typically operates with a voltage swing of about a predeterminedvoltage plus 0.050 volts to the predetermined voltage minus 0.050 voltsand at relatively higher switching frequencies than GTL (for terminatedHSTL, the predetermined voltage is the termination voltage, whilenon-terminated HSTL uses a reference voltage).

One deficiency of Gunning and other known driver circuitry is thelimited scope with which the circuitry may be used. A PLD having GTLdrivers must interface with a GTL bus. A PLD having TTL drivers mustinterface with a TTL bus or discrete TTL components. A PLD having HSTLdrivers must interface with a HSTL bus or discrete HSTL components.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide anI/O architecture which provides the capability to drive multiple logicstandards.

It would also be desirable to be able to provide an I/O architecturehaving the capability to selectively drive any one of multiple logicstandards.

It would further be desirable to be able to provide an I/O architecturewhich may be programmed by a user to select any one of several logicstandards, such that a single PLD may be used with external circuitrythat operates at different logic levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an I/O architecture whichprovides the capability to drive multiple logic standards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an I/O architecturehaving the capability to selectively drive any one of multiple logicstandards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an I/O architecturewhich may be programmed by a user to select any one of several logicstandards, such that a single PLD may be used with external circuitrythat operates at different logic levels.

These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention by providing an I/O architecturewhich includes programmable I/O buffers that interface with variousdifferent logic standards. In a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, programmable I/O devices are provided which interface withTTL, CMOS, open drain, GTL and HSTL (both terminated and non-terminated)logic standards. Those skilled in the art will understand that otherlogic standards, both those presently available and others still to bedeveloped, may be incorporated into I/O circuits such as those describedherein without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides aprogrammable logic circuit having four states (i.e., two bits) which arecorrespond to voltage levels representative of various logic standards.By adding an additional bit to the logic circuit and additional drivingcircuitry, additional logic standards may be supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of aninput/output circuit incorporating principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a programmable output buffer of theinput/output circuit of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a programmable inputbuffer of the input/output circuit of FIG. 1, constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of aprogrammable input buffer of the input/output circuit of FIG. 1,constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another alternate embodiment of aprogrammable input buffer of the input/output circuit of FIG. 1,constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a programmable input/output(I/O) circuit 100 which incorporates principles of the presentinvention. I/O circuit 100 includes output driver 102, input driver 104,I/O pad 106, and programmable elements 108 and 110. Output driver 102,which has an input terminal to receive output signals from aprogrammable logic device (PLD) (not shown), provides an output signal(OUT) to I/O pad 106 at an appropriate voltage level that corresponds toa selected logic standard. Additionally, output driver 102 has threecontrol lines which receive signals ENABLE, SB0 (Select Bit 0), and SB1(Select Bit 1).

Input driver 104, which has an input terminal to receive signals fromI/O pad 106 and output buffer 102, provides input signals to the PLD atthe appropriate level of voltage, regardless of the voltage level of thesignal receive on the input terminal. In addition, input driver 104 alsoreceives control signal SB1 from programmable element 108. Programmableelements 108 and 110 may be of any variety of memory cells. For example,elements 108 and 110 may be SRAM (static random access memory), EPROM(erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory), or antifuses.

For convenience, simplicity and to reduce chip area, it is preferablethat elements 108 and 110 be formed from the same variety ofprogrammable elements as the PLD to which they are attached. Thus, ifthe PLD utilizes EEPROM elements (such as in the MAX 7000 family of PLDsavailable from Altera Corporation, San Jose, Calif.), each I/O circuit100 should also include EEPROM elements for programmable elements 108and 110. Further, while such a configuration is preferable, it is not arequirement of the present invention (i.e., a PLD utilizing EEPROMs maybe configured with I/O circuits 100 utilizing SRAM elements).

The operation of I/O circuit 100 depends on the status of programmableelements 108 and 110. For a given set of programmable bits (i.e.,setting the status of elements 108 and 110), output driver 102 and inputdriver 104 are configured to convert PLD voltage levels to voltagelevels corresponding to the selected logic standard. Further, outputdriver 102 does not change its output voltage levels until an ENABLEsignal is received on the appropriate control line, as described morefully below. In contrast to output driver 102, input driver 104 adjuststhe voltage levels it operates with as soon as signal SB1 changes.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, where only two control bits areused (i.e., SB0 and SB1), there are four different sets of voltagelevels which may be selected. Each voltage level corresponds to one ormore of the appropriate voltages necessary to drive devices inaccordance with a given logic standard.

For example, one possible I/O configuration for a given set of possiblevalues of programmable elements 108 and 110 is given in the followingTable 1:

TABLE 1 SB1 SB0 Logic Standard Voltages 0 0 TTL/CMOS 0 1 Open Drain 1 0GTL/HSTL (non-terminated) 1 1 GTL/HSTL (terminated)

Thus, for example, if signals SB1 and SB0 are both set provide a logiclow, output driver 102 and input driver 104 are configured to operatewith TTL/CMOS voltage levels in interfacing with I/O pad 106.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of outputdriver 102 of FIG. 1. Output driver 102 includes inverter 202, which isadapted to receive the ENABLE signal and NOR gate 204, which receivesthe inverted ENABLE signal from inverter 202 and signal SB0 from element110 (of FIG. 1). The output of NOR gate 204 is provided as one input toNAND gate 206, while the OUT signal is provided as the other input.Additionally, the OUT signal is inverted by inverter 208 and provided asone input to NAND gate 210, while the ENABLE signal is the other inputsignal.

The output of NAND gate 206 is provided to inverter 212, while theoutput of NAND gate 210 is provided to inverter 214. Inverters 212 and214 are preferably both CMOS inverters which are formed by fabricatingan n-channel MOSFET and a p-channel MOSFET with merged floating regions,as is well known in the art. Thus, inverters 212 and 214 are formed byn-channel MOSFETs 216 and 218, respectively, and p-channel MOSFETs 220and 222, respectively. The outputs of inverters 212 and 214 are coupledto n-channel MOSFETs 224 and 226, respectively.

Signal SB1 is provided to inverter 228, whose output is coupled totransmission gate 230. Signal SB1 is also coupled to the gate ofn-channel MOSFET 232. The input of transmission gate 230 is coupled tothe output of NAND gate 210, while the output of gate 230 is coupled tothe gate of n-channel MOSFET 234. MOSFET 234 is used to adjust the trippoint of inverter 214. The output of NAND gate 210 is also coupled tothe gate of n-channel MOSFET 236.

Inverter 214 provides an input signal to inverter 238 that is invertedand supplied as one input to NOR gate 240. The other input for NOR gate240 is the inverted SB1 signal output from inverter 228. NOR gate 240drives the gate of n-channel MOSFET 242, which has its drain and sourceregions connected between MOSFET 236 and the output terminal of outputdriver 102 (designated as V_(OUT)).

Output driver 102, which is active high (as described below), operatesas follows. When ENABLE is low, the output of inverter 202 is high sothat NOR gate 204 provides a low signal. The low signal is input to NANDgate 206, which produces a high signal to inverter 212. Inverter 212inverts the high signal to drive the gate of n-channel MOSFET 224 with alow signal, which keeps MOSFET 224 turned off. At the same time, the lowENABLE signal is also provided as an input to NAND gate 210, whichproduces a high signal to inverter 214.

Inverter 214 inverts the high signal to drive the gate of n-channelMOSFET 226 with a low signal, which keeps MOSFET 226 turned off. Becauseboth MOSFETs 224 and 226 are turned off, irrespective of signals SB1 andSB0, signal OUT is not passed to V_(OUT). Thus, when ENABLE is low,output driver 102 is inactive.

Output driver 102 is turned on when ENABLE is set high. The logicstandard applied by output driver 102 is determined by the status ofSelect Bits SB1 and SB0. The high ENABLE signal is input to inverter 202and NAND gate 210, which potentially activates NOR gate 204 and NANDgate 210. The other input to NOR gate 204 is signal SB0, such that NORgate 204 produces a high output if signal SB0 is low.

If the output of NOR gate 204 is low, then the output of NAND gate 206is high, regardless of the state of signal OUT. A high output signalfrom NAND gate 206 is inverted to a low signal by inverter 212, the lowsignal preventing MOSFET 224 from turning on. MOSFET 224 has its drainand source nodes connected between predetermined voltage source V_(CCIO)and terminal V_(OUT), respectively.

A high output signal from NOR gate 204 (i.e., when signal SB0 is low) iscombined with signal OUT such that NAND gate 206 acts as an inverter onthe OUT signal. The signal inverted by NAND gate 206, is inverted byinverter 212 such that the signal input to the gate of MOSFET 224 is thesame as that of signal OUT. Thus, if signal OUT is high, MOSFET 224 isturned on and if signal OUT is low, MOSFET 224 is turned off.

The second MOSFET which controls the output signal is MOSFET 226, whichis connected between predetermined voltage source V_(SSIO) and terminalV_(OUT) (while it is preferable that V_(SSIO) is separate from internalground source V_(SS)—to reduce noise—the principles of the presentinvention may be practiced using a common ground). The state of MOSFET226 is determined based upon signals SB1 and OUT. Signal OUT is invertedby inverter 208 and input to NAND gate 210, which together act as abuffer to signal OUT (that is controlled by signal ENABLE). Thus, signalOUT is provided as an input to inverter 214. The inverted signalcontrols MOSFET 226 such that MOSFET 226 is on when signal OUT is low,and off when signal OUT is high.

Signal SB1, which is inverted by inverter 228, drives the gate of MOSFET232. The inverted SB1 signal determines whether transmission gate 230passes the signal as its input (which corresponds to signal OUT). Whentransmission gate 230 is on, it passes signal OUT to the gate of MOSFET234. The inverted SB1 signal is also provided as one input to NOR gate240. The other input to NOR gate 240 is signal OUT (i.e., signal OUT,after it has been inverted twice by inverters 214 and 238). The outputof NOR gate 240 drives the gate of MOSFET 242, which has a source regionconnected to terminal V_(OUT). Signal OUT also drives the gate of MOSFET236, such that MOSFET 236 is on when signal OUT is high.

The circuitry including inverters 228 and 238, NOR gate 240,transmission gate 230, and MOSFETs 232, 234, 236, and 242 provide noisereduction for output driver 102 during transitions of signal OUT fromlow to high when Select Signal SB1 is high (because when SB1 is low, NORgate 240 always provides a low output keeping MOSFET 242 turnedoff—i.e., TTL and open drain).

While OUT is low, MOSFET 242 is on and MOSFET 236 is off. When OUT goeshigh, MOSFET 236 is immediately turned on such that MOSFETs 236 and 242are on causing the gate and drain of MOSFET 226 to be tied together.Once the time delay introduced by inverter 236 and NOR gate 240 lapses,MOSFET 242 turns off and normal operation continues. Thus, noise isreduced during the low-to-high transition by temporarily coupling thegate and drain of MOSFET 226 together. Further, the noise reduction isonly applicable during GTL/HSTL operations (i.e., when signal SB1 ishigh).

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of input driver 104 as input driver circuit300. Driver circuit 300 merges the TTL portion with the GTL portion toreduce transistor count and layout area. However, due to the mergedcircuitry, the TTL and GTL circuits may not be independently optimized.Driver circuit 300 includes p-channel MOSFETs 302 and 304, and n-channelMOSFET 306, all having a gate coupled to receive signal V_(OUT) fromoutput driver 102 to I/O pad 106. MOSFET 302 is coupled betweenpredetermined voltage source V_(CC) and one side of the source/drainchannel of MOSFET 304. An additional p-channel MOSFET 308 is alsocoupled the source/drain channel of MOSFET 304.

The other side of the source/drain channel of MOSFET 304 is coupled to aseries of inverters 314, 316, and 318, which provide signal IN to thePLD. N-channel MOSFET 320 has a source/drain channel coupled between theinput of inverter 314 and MOSFET 306. The gate of MOSFET 320 is drivenby inverted signal SB1 (which is inverted by inverter 322).

N-channel MOSFET 324 has a source/drain channel coupled between MOSFET304 and ground, while n-channel MOSFET 326 is coupled between MOSFET 308and ground, however, MOSFET 326 is diode-connected. The gates of MOSFETs324 and 326 are coupled together and to one end of the source/drainchannel of n-channel MOSFET 328, while the other end is coupled toground. MOSFET 328 is driven by the inverted SB1 signal received frominverter 322.

P-channel MOSFET 310 and n-channel MOSFET 312 have their gates coupledtogether such that one of MOSFETs 310 and 312 is on at all times. Thegates of MOSFETs 310 and 312 are coupled to receive signal SB1, which isthe only Signal Bit utilized by input driver circuit 300. MOSFETs 310and 312 also have their source/drain channels coupled together and tothe gate of MOSFET 308 such that the gate of MOSFET 308 is alwaysprovided with one or predetermined voltages V_(CC) or V_(REF) (V_(REF)may typically be about 0.8 volts).

MOSFETs 302, 304, 308, 324 and 326 are coupled together to form adifferential amplifier. The inputs to the differential amplifier are thegates of MOSFETs 304 and 308. MOSFET 304 receives the input signal fromeither output buffer 102 or I/O pad 106, while MOSFET 308 receives thepredetermined reference voltage. The input signal is only compared tothe reference voltage by the differential amplifier when the amplifieris activated by Select Signal SB1.

When signal SB1 is high—i.e., logic standard GTL or HSTL isselected—inverter 322 provides a low signal to the gates of MOSFETs 320and 328, turning them both off. At the same time, the high SB1 signal isprovided to the gates of MOSFETs 310 and 312, which turns MOSFET 310 off(because it is a p-channel device) and MOSFET 312 on (because it is ann-channel device). MOSFET 312 provides V_(REF) (which is a referencevoltage, typically about 0.8 volts) to MOSFET 308, turning it on.

MOSFETs 324 and 326 are coupled together to produce a current mirrorwithin the differential amplifier such that the current passing throughMOSFETs 304 and 324 is substantially equal to the current passingthrough MOSFETs 308 and 326. The current mirror is turned on and off byMOSFET 328 in conjunction with signal SB1 (i.e., when SB1 is low, MOSFET328 is turned on which grounds the gates of MOSFETs 324 and 326,effectively turning off the current mirror). Additionally, becauseMOSFET 320 is off when the current mirror is on (it is controlled by thesame signal that controls MOSFET 328), the signal IN is directly relatedto the current passing through the branches of the current mirror.

However, if signal V_(OUT) is higher than V_(REF) when SB1 is high, thecurrent mirror is not turned on because p-channel MOSFET 302 is off(such that the current from voltage source V_(CC) does not pass into thecurrent mirror). Because the current mirror is off, the input toinverter 314 is low. The low signal is inverted three times and suppliedas a high signal to terminal IN. Three inverters are provided to enablethe driver circuit to drive circuits having increased loads by sizinginverter 314 to be smaller than inverters 316 and 318. Thus, inverters316 and 318 act to buffer and amplify the signal output from inverter314. The smaller size of inverter 314 is used to reduce the loading atthe output of the input buffer to allow it to switch faster.

On the other hand, when signal V_(OUT) is lower than V_(REF) and SB1 ishigh, MOSFET 302 is on which turns on the current mirror. A current thenpasses down each branch of the current mirror and provides a high inputto inverter 314. The high signal is inverted three times to provide alow signal to terminal IN.

A low SB1 signal turns on MOSFET 310 which provides V_(CC) to MOSFET308, turning it off. The low SB1 signal also turns on MOSFET 328 whichgrounds the current mirror, and turns on MOSFET 320. MOSFET 320 acts inconjunction with MOSFET 306 to provide a current path depending on thestate of signal V_(OUT) When signal VOUT is high, MOSFETs 306 and 320are on which grounds the input to inverter 314. The grounded signal isinverted three times to provide a high signal to terminal IN. Whensignal V_(OUT) is low, MOSFETs 302 and 304 are turned on and MOSFET 306is turned off. Thus, a high signal is input to inverter 314 which isinverted three times and provided as a low signal to terminal IN.

Operation of I/O circuit 100 may require additional settings by a userto properly program the buffer circuitry. For example, for use with theTTL/CMOS standards, V_(CCIO) is typically set about 5.0 volts, whichprovides a high signal from about 2.4 volts to about 3.5 volts. For opendrain logic, I/O pad 106 is coupled to a terminating resistor, whichsets the appropriate voltage levels because MOSFET 224 is permanentlyoff (due to signal SB0 being set high).

GTL/HSTL non-terminated logic operates in a manner similar to opendrain, in that MOSFET 224 is always off. However, the input voltagelevels are set by the value of the reference voltage V_(REF). ForGTL/HSTL terminated, the voltage levels are determined by settingV_(CCIO) to be equal to the termination voltage (typically from about1.2 volts to about 1.6 volts).

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of input buffer 104 as buffercircuit 400. In buffer 400, the TTL and GTL input driving circuits arenot merged, requiring higher transistor count than buffer 300. However,buffer 400 provides the capability to independently optimize theoperational speed of the TTL and GTL input buffers.

Buffer circuit 400 includes inverter 402 and n-channel MOSFET 404 whichare adapted to receive signal V_(OUT) from output buffer 102 or I/O pad106 MOSFET 404, which has a source connected to drive the gate ofp-channel MOSFET 406, is itself driven by Select Signal SB1 (once again,the only Select Signal utilized by input buffer 104). Select Signal SB1is also inverted by inverter 408 and provided to p-channel MOSFETs 410and 412. MOSFET 410 connects the inverted V_(OUT) signal (from inverter402) to the input of inverter 414, which is coupled in series throughinverters 416 and 418 to terminal IN.

P-channel MOSFET 420 is coupled to act as the current source for thecurrent mirror formed by n-channel MOSFETs 422 and 424, with MOSFET 422being diodeconnected. P-channel MOSFET 426 is coupled to mirror thecharacteristics of MOSFET 406, but is constantly driven on by referencevoltage V_(REF). Thus, the two branches of the current mirror are formedby MOSFET pairs 422/426 and 406/424.

Similarly to MOSFET 328 of FIG. 3, n-channel MOSFET 412 turns thecurrent mirror on and off in conjunction with signal SB1 by groundingthe gates of MOSFETs 422 and 424. Additionally, p-channel MOSFET 428,which is connected between reference voltage V_(CC) and the gate ofMOSFETs 406 and 420, keeps the current mirror turned off when SB1 is lowby providing V_(CC) to the gates of MOSFETs 406 and 420 to turn themoff.

Buffer circuit 400 operates as follows. When signal SB1 is low, thecurrent mirror is turned off and MOSFET 410 is turned on. Therefore, theV_(OUT) signal applied by output buffer 102 or I/O pad 106 is leveltranslated first by inverter 402 then inverted three times (by inverters414, 416, and 418) back to its original state and provided to terminalIN (i.e., a high signal V_(OUT) ends up as a high signal at terminal INand vice versa).

When signal SB1 is high, MOSFETs 410, 412, and 428 are turned off, whichterminates the direct path from terminal V_(OUT) to terminal IN andturns on the current mirror. MOSFET 404, which is coupled to terminalV_(OUT), is turned on to provide signal V_(OUT) as a driving signal tothe gate of MOSFET 406. The output of the current mirror is taken from anode between MOSFETs 406 and 424 and is coupled to the input of inverter414.

If signal V_(OUT) is lower than V_(REF), MOSFETS 406 and 420 are turnedon, activating the current mirror to cause a high signal to be input toinverter 414. The high signal is inverted three times to provide a lowsignal to terminal IN. If signal V_(OUT) is higher than V_(REF), MOSFETS406 and 420 are turned off, de-activating the current mirror to cause alow signal to be input to inverter 414. The low signal is inverted threetimes to provide a high signal to terminal IN.

FIG. 5 shows another alternate embodiment of input buffer 104 as buffercircuit 500. Buffer circuit 500 is substantially similar to buffercircuit 400 of FIG. 4, except for a slight rearrangement of inputsignals which enables two inverters to be eliminated. The elimination ofthe inverters provides a buffer circuit requiring slightly less chiparea than buffer 400. However, because of the eliminated inversionstage, buffer circuit 500 may only be used to drive smaller loads thanbuffer circuit 400. Circuit components that are the same in buffercircuits 400 and 500 are numbered using buffer circuit 400's referencenumerals. Accordingly, the discussion above for those components applieslikewise to buffer circuit 500 unless otherwise described.

The differences between buffer circuits 400 and 500 are as follows.Buffer 500 is implemented without inverters 402 and 418. Thus, when thecurrent mirror is inactive, the signal from terminal V_(OUT) is onlyinverted twice, instead of four times, before being received by terminalIN. Additionally, because there are only two inverters in series betweenthe current mirror and terminal IN, the current mirror must beconfigured to provide output signals which are inverted from the outputsignals of the current mirror of FIG. 4.

Whereas signal V_(OUT) is supplied as an input to MOSFET 404 in buffer400, signal V_(OUT) is provided as an input to MOSFET 426 in buffer 500(i.e., the opposing branch of the current mirror). Additionally,reference voltage V_(REF), which constantly drives MOSFET 426 on inbuffer 400, is instead provided as the input to MOSFET 404 in buffer500. The switching of signal V_(OUT) and V_(REF) changes the operationof the current mirror as follows.

When signal SB1 is low, the only operational difference between buffers400 and 500 is that signal V_(OUT) is only inverted twice, because thecurrent mirror remains off. However, when signal SB1 is high in buffer500, MOSFET 428 is turned off and MOSFETs 404, 406 and 420 are turnedon, which turns on the current mirror (MOSFETs 406 and 420 are turned onby V_(REF) which passes through MOSFET 404). Further, when signalV_(OUT) is higher than V_(REF) in buffer 500, MOSFET 426 is turned offso that no current is passed by the current mirror. Therefore, thecurrent mirror outputs a high signal which is inverted twice and passedto terminal IN. When signal V_(OUT) is lower than V_(REF) in buffer 500,MOSFET 426 is turned on and the current mirror outputs a low signalwhich is inverted twice and passed to terminal IN.

Thus, a programmable logic device having a programmable logic circuit toselect any one of several different logic drivers is provided. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can bepracticed by other than the described embodiment, which is presented forpurposes of illustration and not of limitation. For example, while thedetailed schematics of the input buffers and output buffer show specificconfigurations of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs, the principles of thepresent invention may be practiced using n-channel MOSFETs for p-channelMOSFETs and vice versa with a slight adjustment of signal inputs andoutputs. Thus, the present invention is limited only by the claims whichfollow.

1. A programmable input/output device for coupling a programmable logicdevice (PLD) to external circuitry, the input/output device comprising:an input/output pad; an output buffer adapted to receive output signalsfrom the PLD, the output buffer modifying the output signals and beingcoupled to the input/output pad; an input buffer adapted to receiveinput signals from the input/output pad and from the output buffer, theinput buffer modifying the input signals and being coupled to the PLD toprovide the PLD with the modified input signals; and a plurality oflogic standards; and a plurality of programmable logic elements thatselect a logic standard from said plurality of logic standards withwhich the output buffer and the input buffer respectively modify theoutput and input signals.
 2. The programmable input/output device ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of programmable logic elements comprises:a first programmable logic element coupled to the output buffer and theinput buffer; and a second programmable logic element coupled to theoutput buffer.
 3. The programmable input/output device of claim 2,wherein the plurality of programmable logic elements are SRAM elements.4. The programmable input/output device of claim 2, wherein theplurality of programmable logic elements are EPROM elements.
 5. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 2, wherein the plurality ofprogrammable logic elements are EEPROM elements.
 6. The programmableinput/output device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of programmablelogic elements are antifuse elements.
 7. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 2, wherein the plurality of programmable logic elementsare elements from the group of SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, and antifuseelements.
 8. The programmable input/output device of claim 1, whereinthe input/output device provides signal modification in accordance withTTL standards.
 9. The programmable input/output device of claim 1,wherein the input/output device provides signal modification inaccordance with CMOS logic standards.
 10. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 1, wherein the input/output device provides signalmodification in accordance with open drain logic standards.
 11. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 1, wherein the input/outputdevice provides signal modification in accordance with GTL standards.12. The programmable input/output device of claim 1, wherein theinput/output device provides signal modification in accordance with HSTLstandards.
 13. The programmable input/output device of claim 12, whereinthe HSTL standard is terminated.
 14. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 12, wherein the HSTL standard is non-terminated.
 15. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 1, wherein the input buffercomprises: a differential amplifier circuit being adapted to receive theinput signals; control circuitry that controls the modification of theinput signals in accordance with the standard selected by the pluralityof programmable logic elements; and inversion circuitry that providesthe modified input signals to the PLD.
 16. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 15, wherein the differential amplifier circuit and thecontrol circuit operate in conjunction with each other to provide themodifications of the input signals in accordance with a plurality oflogic standards.
 17. The programmable input/output device of claim 15,wherein the differential amplifier circuit and the control circuitoperate independent of each other such that the modifications of theinput signals are performed by the control circuitry in accordance witha first logic standard and by the differential amplifier circuit inaccordance with a second logic standard, the first and second logicstandards being selected by the plurality of programmable logicelements.
 18. The programmable input/output device of claim 17, whereinthe control circuitry is optimized for speed to provide modification inaccordance with the first logic standard at increased speed.
 19. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 17, wherein the differentialamplifier circuit is optimized for speed to provide modification inaccordance with the second logic standard at increased speed.
 20. Theprogrammable input/output device for coupling a programmable logicdevice (PLD) to external circuitry, the input/output device comprising:means for coupling the input/output device to the external circuitry;means for receiving output signals from the PLD and for modifying theoutput signals in accordance with a selected logic standard, the meansfor receiving providing the modified output signals to the means forcoupling; means for modifying input signals received from the means forreceiving and the means for coupling in accordance with the selectedlogic standard, the means for modifying providing the modified inputsignals to the PLD; and means for selecting the selected logic standardfrom a plurality of logic standards.
 21. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 20, wherein the means for receiving comprises: circuitryfor modifying the output signals to an appropriate high voltage level inaccordance with the selected logic standard if the output signals arelogic high signals; and circuitry for modifying the output signals to anappropriate low voltage level in accordance with the selected logicstandard if the output signals are logic low signals.
 22. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 21, wherein the selected logicstandard is TTL, the appropriate high signal is about 2.4 volts, and theappropriate low signal is about 0.4 volts.
 23. The programmableinput/output device of claim 21, wherein the selected logic standard isGTL, the appropriate high signal is about 1.2 volts, and the appropriatelow signal is about 0.8 volts.
 24. The programmable input/output deviceof claim 21, wherein the selected logic standard is CMOS, theappropriate high signal is about 3.5 volts, and the appropriate lowsignal is about 0 volts.
 25. The programmable input/output device ofclaim 21, wherein the selected logic standard is open drain, theappropriate high signal is determined by external circuitry, and theappropriate low signal is less than about 0.4 volts.
 26. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 21, wherein the selected logicstandard is terminated HSTL, the appropriate high signal is determinedby external circuitry, and the appropriate low signal is about equal tothe appropriate high signal minus 0.1 volts.
 27. The programmableinput/output device of claim 21, wherein the selected logic standard isnon-terminated HSTL, the appropriate high signal is about equal to apredetermined reference voltage plus 0.1 volts, and the appropriate lowsignal is about equal to the predetermined reference voltage minus 0.1volts.
 28. The programmable input/output device of claim 20, wherein themeans for modifying comprises: a first conversion circuit for convertingthe input signals in accordance with a first logic standard; and asecond conversion circuit for converting the input signals in accordancewith a second logic standard.
 29. The programmable input/output deviceof claim 28, wherein the first and second conversion circuits are mergedinto a single conversion circuit.
 30. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 28, wherein the first and second conversion circuits aresubstantially independent of each other such that they may beindependently optimized for operational speed improvements.
 31. A methodfor providing a programmable logic device (PLD) with the capability ofbeing selectively coupled to external circuitry which operates inaccordance with a selected one of a plurality of logic standards, themethods comprising the steps of: programmably selecting the selected oneof a plurality of logic standards; modifying output signals from the PLDin accordance with the selected logic standard such that high PLDsignals correspond to high signals of the selected standard and low PLDsignals correspond to low signal of the selected standard; receivinginput signals from an external interface; and modifying the inputsignals in accordance with the selected logic standard such that highinput signals are converted to high PLD signals and low input signalsare converted to low PLD signals.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinthe step of programmably selecting the selected one of a plurality oflogic standards selects a logic standard from the group including: TTL,CMOS logic, open drain logic, GTL, terminated HSTL, and non-terminatedHSTL.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of programmablyselecting comprises the step of applying a plurality of Select Bits to aplurality of programmable elements.
 34. The method of claim 33, whereinthe programmable elements are from the group including: SRAM, EPROM,EEPROM, and anti-fuse elements.
 35. A programmable input/output devicefor coupling a programmable logic device (PLD) to external circuitry,the input/output device comprising: an input/output pad; an outputbuffer adapted to receive output signals from the PLD, the output buffermodifying the output signals and being coupled to the input/output pad;an input buffer adapted to receive a reference signal and input signalsfrom the input/output pad and from the output buffer, the input buffercomparing the received input signals to the reference signal to producea differential signal and coupling the differential signal to the PLD toprovide the PLD with modified input signals; and a plurality ofprogrammable elements that select the standard with which the outputbuffer and the input buffer respectively modify the output and inputsignals.
 36. The programmable input/output device of claim 35, whereinthe plurality of programmable elements further comprise: a firstprogrammable element coupled to the output buffer and the input buffer;and a second programmable element coupled to the output buffer.
 37. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 36, wherein the plurality ofprogrammable elements are elements selected from the group consisting ofSRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, fuse and antifuse elements.
 38. The programmableinput/output device of claim 35, wherein the input/output deviceprovides signal modification in accordance with logic standards selectedfrom the group consisting of TTL, CMOS, GTL, and HSTL.
 39. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 35, wherein the input buffercomprises: a differential amplifier circuit being adapted to receive theinput signals; control circuitry that controls the modification of theinput signals in accordance with the standard selected by the pluralityof programmable elements; and inversion circuitry that provides themodified input signals to the PLD.
 40. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 39, wherein the differential amplifier circuit and thecontrol circuit operate in conjunction with each other to provide themodifications of the input signals in accordance with a plurality oflogic standards.
 41. The programmable input/output device of claim 39,wherein the differential amplifier circuit and the input buffer operateindependent of each other such that the modifications of the inputsignals are performed by the input buffer in accordance with a firstlogic standard and by the differential amplifier circuit in accordancewith a second logic standard, the first and second logic standards beingselected by the plurality of programmable elements.
 42. The programmableinput/output device of claim 41, wherein the input buffer is optimizedfor speed to provide modification in accordance with the first logicstandard at increased speed.
 43. The programmable input/output device ofclaim 41, wherein the differential amplifier circuit is optimized forspeed to provide modification in accordance with the second logicstandard at increased speed.
 44. A programmable input/output device forcoupling a programmable logic device (PLD) to external circuitry, theinput/output device comprising: means for coupling the input/outputdevice to the external circuitry; means for receiving output signalsfrom the PLD and for modifying the output signals in accordance with aselected logic standard, the means for receiving providing the modifiedoutput signals to the means for coupling; means for modifying inputsignals received from the means for receiving and the means for couplingin accordance with the selected logic standard, the means for modifyingincluding a means for comparing the received input signals to areference signal to produce a differential signal and for providing themodified input signals to the PLD; and means for selecting the selectedlogic standard from a plurality of logic standards.
 45. The programmableinput/output device of claim 44, wherein the means for receivingcomprises: circuitry for modifying the output signals to an appropriatehigh voltage level in accordance with the selected logic standard if theoutput signals are logic high signals; and circuitry for modifying theoutput signals to an appropriate low voltage level in accordance withthe selected logic standard if the output signals are logic low signals.46. The programmable input/output device of claim 44, wherein the meansfor modifying comprises: a first conversion circuit for converting theinput signals in accordance with a first logic standard; and a secondconversion circuit for converting the input signals in accordance with asecond logic standard.
 47. The programmable input/output device of claim46, wherein the first and second conversion circuits are merged into asingle conversion circuit.
 48. The programmable input/output device ofclaim 46, wherein the first and second conversion circuits aresubstantially independent of each other such that they may beindependently optimized for operational speed improvements.
 49. A methodfor providing a programmable logic device (PLD) with the capability ofbeing selectively coupled to external circuitry that operates inaccordance with a selected one of a plurality of logic standards, themethod comprising: programmably selecting the selected one of aplurality of logic standards; modifying output signals from the PLD inaccordance with the selected logic standard such that high PLD signalscorrespond to high signals of the selected standard and low PLD signalscorrespond to low signal of the selected standard; receiving inputsignals from an external interface; comparing the received input signalsto a reference signal to produce a differential signal in accordancewith the selected logic standard such that high input signals areconverted to high PLD signals and low input signals are converted to lowPLD signals.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the programmablyselecting further comprises selecting a logic standard selected from thegroup consisting of TTL, CMOS, open drain logic, GTL, terminated HSTL,and non-terminated HSTL.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein theprogrammably selecting further comprises applying a plurality of SelectBits to a plurality of programmable elements.
 52. A programmableinput/output device capable of operating at multiple logic standardscomprising: an input/output terminal; a plurality of programmableelements; and an input buffer having circuitry controlled by at leastone of the plurality of programmable elements to select between a firstlogic standard and a second logic standard wherein the second logicstandard is a differential logic standard.
 53. The programmableinput/output device of claim 52 wherein the differential logic standardis a standard selected from the group consisting of HSTL and GTL. 54.The programmable input/output device of claim 52 wherein the first logicstandard is a standard selected from the group consisting of TTL orCMOS.
 55. The programmable input/output device of claim 52 wherein theprogrammable elements are elements selected from the group consisting ofSRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, and antifuse elements.
 56. The programmableinput/output device of claim 52 wherein the input buffer furthercomprises a differential amplifier circuit that is used for generatingthe differential logic standard.
 57. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 52 wherein at least one programmable element is coupledto the input buffer.
 58. The programmable input/output device of claim52 further comprising an output buffer having circuitry controlled by atleast one of the plurality of programmable elements to select betweenthe first logic standard and the second logic standard.
 59. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 58 wherein the second logicstandard is a differential logic standard.
 60. The programmableinput/output device of claim 58 wherein at least one programmableelement is coupled to the input buffer.
 61. The programmableinput/output device of claim 60 wherein the input buffer and the outputbuffer are controlled by the same programmable element.
 62. Aprogrammable input/output buffer capable of operating at multiple logicstandards comprising: an input/output terminal; a plurality ofprogrammable elements; and an output buffer having circuitry controlledby at least one of the plurality of programmable elements to selectbetween one logic standard and a differential logic standard.
 63. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 62 wherein the differentiallogic standard is a standard selected from the group consisting of HSTLand GTL.
 64. The programmable input/output device of claim 62 whereinthe first logic standard is a standard selected from the groupconsisting of TTL and CMOS.
 65. The programmable input/output device ofclaim 62 wherein the programmable elements are elements selected fromthe group consisting of SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, and antifuse elements. 66.The programmable input/output device of claim 62 wherein at least oneprogrammable element is coupled to the output buffer.
 67. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 62 further comprising an inputbuffer having circuitry controlled by at least one of the plurality ofprogrammable elements to select between the first logic standard and thesecond logic standard.
 68. The programmable input/output device of claim67 wherein the second logic standard is a differential logic standard.69. The programmable input/output device of claim 67 wherein at leastone programmable element is coupled to the output buffer.
 70. Theprogrammable input/output device of claim 69 wherein the input bufferand the output buffer are controlled by the same programmable element.71. A programmable input/output device comprising: an input/outputterminal; an input buffer and an output buffer coupled to theinput/output terminal, each of which includes means for modifyingsignals applied to the input/output terminal to a selected one ofmultiple logic standards wherein at least one of the multiple logicstandards is a differential logic standard; and a plurality ofprogrammable elements for selecting the logic standard at which theinput and output buffers operate.
 72. The programmable input/outputdevice of claim 71 wherein the input buffer and the output bufferfurther comprise means for modifying signals applied to the input/outputterminal to a logic standard selected from the group consisting of TTL,CMOS, GTL and HSTL.
 73. The input/output device of claim 71, wherein theinput buffer and the output buffer share at least one programmableelement.